The wednesday Hag. Content Warning.
Emma is the only daughter of an English family. She was born and raised in Brighton. Emma also has a childhood sweetheart; she’s madly in love with him. They’re dating, and their romance lasts for a while, but he’s the problematic one in the relationship. Emma does everything she can to keep the relationship going, making every possible concession. She even agrees to things she doesn’t agree with, just so they don’t break up. But sometimes it doesn’t work out; this relationship doesn’t last either. Emma is forced to part ways with the man she loves, even though she doesn’t want to—she’s left behind. For two years, she doesn’t let anyone into her life because she can’t forget the man she loved. Since it almost happened but didn’t, this relationship remains a lingering regret for Emma. Two years later, with their families’ intervention and encouragement, Emma and Tom meet. Tom is very smart, a gentleman, hardworking, and a very nice guy who works at a bank. Emma, on the other hand, is a kindergarten teacher. Emma doesn’t feel the same passionate love for Tom that she felt for her first love, but a bond of love and understanding forms between them. Tom proposes to Emma, and she happily accepts. The feeling of starting anew is more appealing than a life chained to the past. Shortly after they marry, Tom is transferred to New York through his bank, and Emma moves there with her husband. They move into an old apartment built in the 1980s; they can’t afford a more luxurious apartment due to the costs of their wedding. After a while, they start trying to have a child, but for a very long time, they are unable to conceive. They go to the doctor, and it turns out they need treatment. They embark on a years-long journey to have a baby, which takes a toll on them both materially and emotionally. Finally, when Emma turns 32, she becomes pregnant—with twins, no less. Everyone is overjoyed, but as the pregnancy progresses, Emma begins to experience changes in her emotional state. It’s natural for expectant mothers to experience emotional fluctuations. Every mother experiences pregnancy differently. Some find it more stressful, while others handle it more easily. Some experience postpartum depression after giving birth. Others get over it easily; it varies from person to person. Emma finds this process extremely difficult from the very start of her pregnancy—though it was a pregnancy she had longed for—but as her belly grows, she begins to feel alienated from her own body. Her tolerance for the world around her diminishes. When she goes to work, her intolerance for the sound of children and her lack of patience for interacting with them lead her to take maternity leave earlier than she had originally planned. After all, she’s expecting twins. Emma’s plan is to have a peaceful pregnancy; she’ll listen to music at home, watch TV, and read books. She’ll take it easy. But that’s not quite how it turns out. Throughout her pregnancy—not just during the first three months, but in the months that follow—Emma’s intolerance to smells reaches its peak. Everything smells awful; she’s bothered by every single scent. She can’t stand sounds either. Even the sound of her husband eating, drinking water, or swallowing next to her bothers Emma. But Tom is a very level-headed man; he’s extremely understanding toward Emma during this time. He even tries to swallow quietly so his wife won’t be bothered. During this period, Emma also begins a phase of self-observation and self-examination. One day, Emma looks at her belly—it’s moving… the baby is clearly moving inside. Since Emma is carrying twins, her belly is larger than a typical pregnancy. She feels a movement in her lower abdomen. It feels as though one of the babies is pressing against Emma’s lower abdomen from the inside. It presses ıt’s finger against her stomach and pulls it out toward her abdomen, feeling as though it’s tracing a shape. Emma begins to feel a sense of detachment from her own baby and her own belly. She shares this with her mother, saying, “The babies are moving in a strange way,” but her mother tells her this is normal.
